The Metropolitan Transportation Commission recently announced recommendation of $1.9 million in Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) funding to construct a trail and greenway on 2.5 miles of abandoned Santa Fe Railroad right-of-way. The trail project, sponsored by the City of Richmond, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and the Community Youth Council for Leadership and Education (CYCLE) will create a link to local and regional parks and trails, schools, Richmond BART/Amtrak station, downtown shopping and newly proposed residential and commercial developments, including a new affordable housing development.

MTC received 39 capital project applications totaling about $46 million in requests. Approximately $9 million is available in federal funds for TLC capital projects through the Transportation Enhancements and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality programs for this cycle. For more information contact Kate Bickert at RTC(kbickert@transact.org) or Judith Henderson at CYCLE (c-y-c-l-e@email.msn.com).

The Richmond Greenway will hook up with the Ohlone Greenway at San Pablo Avenue, where a portion of Baxter Creek surfaces ( see www.creativedifferences.com/baxtercreek.). The Ohlone Greenway is a landscaped linear park along the former Santa Fe right of way in Albany and El Cerrito, where it parallels the BART right-of-way. Albany’s section is broader and more attractive than El Cerrito’s, but there are some interesting sections in El Cerrito, including crossings by two branches of Cerrito Creek, a recently daylighted bit of creek near El Cerrito’s City Hall, and a garden featuring plants that have been around since the Jurassic. For more information about the history of the Ohlone and Richmond Greenway, see www.bpfp.org/SFRW/OhloneGreenway.htm. 

From the Sheridan Observation Point is a great view of Brooks Island. The island is sacred to Native Americans. Access to Brooks Island is by reservation only, and is accessible by East Bay Regional Parks District’s Brooks Island Kayak trips. Trips offer an easy, short 0.5 mile paddle in the protected bay water to the island. Introduction on equipment and strokes is provided along the trip through the Richmond Harbor, followed by a paddle along the shoreline of the island, and a visit to the sand spit for potluck lunch and a two-mile hike around the island.